The Biofeedback Certification
International Alliance
The Accreditation Program of BCIA
Toward Quality and Excellence
in Biofeedback Education & Training
5310 Ward Rd, Suite #201
Arvada, CO 80002
(720) 502-5829
E-Mail: info@bcia.org
www.bcia.org
Information on BCIA Accreditation Program
The BCIA Accreditation Program was established in January 1990 to recognize
quality providers of the didactic education to candidates for BCIA certification. To
address a growing need for continuing education opportunities, BCIA introduced a
program to offer accreditation of private programs to offer recertification credit. Approval
of human anatomy/physiology courses and the opportunity of providers to teach through
a home study option were added. In 1998 BCIA introduced an Neurofeedback
certification program and thereby created an opportunity for accreditation of training
programs providing instruction in neurofeedback. In 2003, BCIA launched a certification
program for the treatment of pelvic muscle dysfunction using behavioral, applied
psychophysiological, and biofeedback modalities.
The only educational opportunities accepted by BCIA for certification requirements other
than the traditional regional accredited academic institution are programs who have
achieved approval by the BCIA Accreditation Program.
BCIA IS OFFERING THIS ACCREDITATION PROGRAM IN ORDER TO:
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meet the needs as expressed by trainers, students, examination candidates and
the public.
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set a standard for the quality of education and training for biofeedback
certification.
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meet the need for accreditation of didactic training programs in biofeedback.
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provide alternatives for didactic training, anatomy/physiology course work and
continuing education opportunities.
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monitor training trends.
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provide a mechanism for established programs to meet BCIA training standards.
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urge qualified teachers to provide approved training.
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provide approved education and training in geographical areas where
opportunities are less available.
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provide an approval system for individual as well as institutional providers for
didactic training hours, continuing education activities and anatomy/physiology
course work in small teaching settings.
BCIA ACCREDITATION PROGRAM POLICIES & PROCEDURES
1.
Accreditation will be granted upon approval of the application and is valid for four
years. The original application must be accompanied by the appropriate fees:
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$200 for Workshop/Training Programs
$150 for Reaccreditation
2.
Electronic versions of all documents are preferred; however if sending paper
documents, please send four copies of all application materials. Materials will be
returned to the applicant if requested on the application form and if postage is paid
by the applicant.
3.
Eighty percent of the hours in an accredited didactic training program must be
taught by approved BCIA certified faculty in live presentation or various distance
education venues.
4.
To be considered, one must not necessarily apply to teach all rubrics in a blueprint;
however each blueprint area or rubric must be completely taught.
5.
Applications will not be reviewed if the key business principal or any of the
instructors are currently under investigation by any state health regulators.
6.
Applications are valid for 12 months from the date of submission. All applications
will go through an administrative review process and then be forwarded to the
Accreditation Committee. If supplemental information is requested by the
Accreditation Committee, applicants have an additional twelve months to comply
before the application expires.
7.
All materials reproduced for distribution to trainees must be done in accordance with
copyright law, and the sources of all materials must be cited.
8.
All approved providers will receive a letter of notification including the proper
approval statement to use in promotional materials and other appropriate
accreditation policies.
9.
BCIA will maintain a list of accredited providers on the website.
10. A BCIA Accredited Providers Course Report must be completed and submitted
within 10 working days of a program's completion.
11. Within 10 days of completion of each didactic training course, a training fee is paid
by the provider to BCIA. The training fee for teaching the total didactic hours is
$50/student for the General Biofeedback or Neurofeedback Program and $25 per
trainee for didactic hours of the Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction Biofeedback Program. If
a program elects to teach less than the prescribed number of hours, a $2 per hour
per student fee may be charged; whichever is smaller. The fee applies to all
students in the program, regardless of their intent to become certified. The fee is not
required for BCIA certificants who enroll in training for the purpose of recertification,
provided a separate certificate is issued documenting recertification credit.
12. BCIA Training Program Evaluation Forms are to be copied and given to students,
who are to forward them directly to BCIA. These evaluations provide ongoing
monitoring of training programs and are kept completely confidential. Training
providers should inform the student of his/her obligation to complete the Training
Program Evaluation Form. The student is asked to evaluate how well the training
program meets the blueprint requirements of BCIA. Failure to file the evaluation
form may result in non-acceptance of the student’s accredited didactic hours.
13. BCIA will report summary evaluation data from students to providers periodically.
14. Didactic training providers must re-apply for accreditation every four years. This
process provides the opportunity for training providers to submit updated
information about their programs and for BCIA to maintain adequate monitoring of
the programs. The re-accreditation fee is $150 and must be submitted with the
application. This fee is not refundable.
15. The following may be grounds for investigation and/or loss of accreditation:
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failure to pay the application fee and/or training fee.
failure to report the total number of trainees.
excessive negative comments/complaints from trainees.
improper use of approval statements.
use of unapproved or unqualified faculty.
failure to submit reports on a timely basis.
non-use of evaluation forms.
program is no longer offering biofeedback training or goes out of business.
civil or criminal action.
ethical violations.
16. BCIA accreditation policies and criteria are subject to change as deemed
appropriate.
17. The training provider maintains responsibility for their program.
18. BCIA grants accreditation to a provider of didactic education based on coverage of
either a blueprint or complete rubric areas of the blueprint and also upon the
expertise of the BCIA certified instructor. Should this program in its entirety or any
part wish to be taken to another location outside of the approved site, the name of
the training program must clearly be advertised as BCIA accredited to provide this
information, regardless of accreditation the other format may provide. The BCIA
accredited training program retains full responsibility for the specific information
taught as well as adherence to all other BCIA accreditation policies including
student evaluation forms, course provider reports, and associated training fees.
To be eligible for fulfillment of the didactic requirement, the certificate of attendance
must be issued by the accredited training provider and must be complete with all
required elements as specified in the BCIA policies.
19. Accredited training providers are asked to attest that they will advise any potential
attendees about the pre-requisite educational requirements for regular entry level
Board certification. If a prospective client does not fit within those guidelines, the
Board Certification programs for Technicians or Academics are to be
recommended, as appropriate. Additionally, all programs must restate BCIA’s
position on license for independent practice:
When treating a medical or psychological disorder, one must carry a state
issued license/credential in a BCIA approved health care field or if unlicensed, must
work under appropriate supervision.
20. At least some portion of the exam items provided as part of the accreditation
application must be in multiple choice format. All items provided will be considered
for possible inclusion into the BCIA exam item bank.
21. This statement must be read at the beginning of each BCIA accredited didactic training
course:
As a BCIA-accredited training provider, we are required to demonstrate and
make clinical-grade biofeedback equipment available throughout the entire
course. This course is designed to fulfill the didactic requirement for certification,
and as such, our goal is to present the basic science, history, theory, and clinical
applications of biofeedback as contained in the BCIA blueprint of knowledge,
independent of any type of equipment.
We are an authorized vendor for the ____________________ system(s)
and have brought the __________ system(s ) for demonstration. We encourage
you to make yourself familiar with this equipment during our "hands on" time. As
professionals, we will not attempt to unfairly influence your purchase decisions.
We will be happy to discuss all of your equipment needs after the close of this
program.
22.
The per student training fee is the responsibility of the BCIA accredited provider
and is not to be assessed as a separate item owed to BCIA. Training fees must
be paid for all students taking a BCIA accredited didactic training program
regardless of their intent to gain BCIA certification.
23.
Accredited HRV training programs are not required to submit training fees;
however, they are requested to submit a list of names and contact information to
BCIA upon completion of the course.
Rev 0502014